Oof: new V8-powered BMW Speedtop unveiled

It might appear that BMW’s Concept Skytop from final yr’s Villa D’Este made an excellent impression in actual life in addition to on-line. Following affirmation that a couple of of these can be constructed for well-heeled collectors, BMW has adopted it with the Idea Speedtop for the 2025 working of the Lake Como extravaganza. Like final yr’s roadster, the Speedtop will get V8 energy, beautiful supplies, and a daring, stunning design. They’re going to make this one, too – what a pair Speedtop and Skytop look set to make. 

BMW means that the Speedtop is an ‘unique three-door interpretation of a BMW Touring’, proof if it have been wanted that even multimillionaires can’t resist a quick Bimmer wagon. Solely that is considerably completely different to something we’ve seen made by BMW, a standard capturing brake introduced updated with trendy particulars. It’s an extended, massive, broad BMW flagship, full with slim entrance lights and just-about-appropriately sized kidney grilles, albeit with a hatchback. A really neatly included one it seems like, too, full with a Hofmeister kink, some cautious crafting of the rear haunches, and a pleasant rake to the rear glass. Plus an enormous pair of exhausts to remind throughout of its 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 coronary heart. Anybody who finds themselves gawping on the Speedtop as opposed to the Skytop actually is not alone. 

As with final yr’s idea, the brand new mannequin will get a spectacularly overhauled cabin, described by BMW as a ‘beneficiant inside for weekend getaways for 2’ – full with Schedoni baggage set even. In addition to the pair behind the seats, a weekend bag will probably be supplied to Speedtop purchasers. As with the open-top automotive, the color scheme inside mirrors that of the outside, right here with the brogue-like detailing on Sunset Maroon and Moonstone White seats. The roof spline that ran by the whole thing of the Skytop is right here too, and really makes it to the headliner alongside. Any points with acquainted BMW switches will most likely be dismissed in a haze of gorgeous-smelling disguise. And at the very least it’s a BMW inside with some switches…

The skin is painted Floating Sunstone Maroon, a stunning deep purple that we might guess is new and distinctive to the Speedtop. Similar for the brand new 14-spoke wheels which, regardless of formally being known as two-tone, are predominantly silver – and look all the higher for it. Extra like this please, BMW, even whether it is simply nicer-looking wheels. 

Adrian van Hooydonk, as Head of BMW Group Design, rightly sounds fairly happy with the Idea Skytop: “A real BMW exudes dynamism and magnificence even when it’s standing nonetheless, and that’s additionally the case with our new idea automotive. The BMW Idea Speedtop is characterised initially by its profile. It is extremely distinctive within the automotive trade. On this method, we have now created an exclamation mark for our whole lineup of automobiles, particularly for the Touring fashions.” 

It’s actually giving glamour in a method that no different BMW presently in manufacturing can. They are surely going to make the Speedtop, too, and if the photographs seen of a Skytop in testing are something to go by, then it gained’t change a lot between idea stage and a spot within the portfolio. There will probably be 70 produced, completed with ‘the experience of the Manufactory workshop’ at Dingolfing, in comparison with 50 Skytops. It seems that there actually is a chance to seize one, too; this automotive has remained prime secret, and at this time’s press launch states that the Speedtop is on the market to order. So don’t delay – European highway journeys won’t ever be fairly the identical once more.